Archive: Jun 2014

A grateful Fairfax County officially ushered in "Army Week" and bid a fond farewell to two leaders of Fort Belvoir's Garrison. Col. Gregory D. Gadson, garrison commander; and Don Carr, garrison director of public affairs, each received proclamations from the county.
The county's Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Tuesday to celebrate its longstanding relationship with Fort Belvoir by proclaiming "Army Week" throughout the county from June 13-21 and followed that with two more resolutions that honored the post's two soon-to-be-retirees in Gadson and Carr for their many years of service.

The 2014 U.S. Army Soldier Show had its audience laughing, crying and cheering during the first performance Monday that was attended by dignitaries, Soldiers and Gold Star Families.
For four Army widows the show meant so much more as they supported each other through the, at times, solemn performance.

ELBERT, Colo. -- Fort Carson medics ensured the safety and health of 200 cadets attending the Colorado high school Army Junior ROTC Cadet Leadership Challenge Camp, at Magness Cub Scout Adventure Camp in Elbert, June 9-13.
Medics from 4th Combat Aviation Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, were an important part of the operations at the camp.

U.S. Army Garrison Fort Belvoir recognized the Army's 239th birthday at Humphreys Hall Friday with a celebration studded with music and history.
Don Carr, Fort Belvoir director of public affairs, led the ceremony that marked not only the Army's birthday, but also the 237th anniversary of the American Flag.

Three Advanced Individual Training platoon sergeants from the 428th Field Artillery and 30th Air Defense Artillery brigades competed to be the best June 9-12. The winner will be announced June 26, and move on to the TRADOC competition.

Armed Forces Voters Registration Week is June 30 through July 7. Unit voting assistance officers (UVAOs) will be contacting all Soldiers and family members to ensure those eligible may register to vote.

FORT DRUM, N.Y. -- Not long before D-Day, Cpl. Amos "Andy" Cambron was in a New Jersey bar when a stranger asked him what he did in the Army. Cambron had just learned how to drive a Sherman tank through the woods of a remote training area in northern New York called Pine Camp.

As a pipefitter for Anniston Army Depot, Mario Moffa's job takes him to almost every area of the installation. His dedication to safety is behind his nomination as the Directorate of Public Works' safe employee of the quarter for January through March of 2014.

"Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That is why it is called the 'present,'" is Spc. David Harrell's favorite "Kung Fu Panda" quote. His six year old son loves that movie, and they watch it often.

Dr. William A. "Bill" Craig, director of the Software Engineering Directorate, was presented with the Government & Industry Leadership Award at the thirteenth annual Leadership Awards Banquet sponsored by the Alabama A&M University Huntsville Progressive Alumni Chapter.

In the distance a mushroom cloud filled with fire, smoke and debris erupts just outside a small town in the middle of the Mojave Desert; the faint sound of voices can be heard and the outline of people moving about -- quickly -- can be seen.

WEST POINT, NEW YORK -- U.S. Army athletes came out strong and took eighteen gold, twelve silver, and eight bronze medals at the men's and women's 2014 U.S. Army Warrior Trials track event at the Unites States Military Academy Preparatory School track in West Point, New York, .

On June 14, the Army celebrated 239 Years. As the Army continues to demonstrate its competence, its commitment and its character in defense of our nation, our Soldiers possess a lifelong commitment to our values.

FORT DRUM, N.Y. -- With any military position, leader development programs are an integral part of career enhancement. At the U.S. Military Academy, West Point, the Cadet Troop Leadership Training is an invaluable tool that allows senior cadets an opportunity to gain hands-on experience at an active-duty Army post. The program takes place within a three- to four-week period during the summer between junior and senior year.

FORT DRUM, N.Y. -- Soldiers in their Army physical fitness uniforms lined the streets of Fort Drum to put everything they knew to the test. Perfection was a must, and the words "I don't know" were not an acceptable answer.

LAGHMAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan -- In April, there were eight candidates vying to become Afghanistan's next president; in June there were two. In as many months as there are candidates from the last election, the Afghans went to the voting booths to decide who will become their country's next top official.

FORT DRUM, N.Y. -- For the past 18 months, Child, Youth and School Services programs across the Army have been scrutinized and audited to ensure all standard operating procedures and regulations are being followed.

In 1776, a small group of patriots banded together to begin an experiment in democracy that few predicted would become the greatest Nation on earth. Through the 238 years since, American Soldiers have selflessly and courageously defended our freedoms. Your service ensures liberty will endure in this great land for many birthdays to come, and I thank you all for your dedication and sacrifice.

TARDEC publishes accelerate Magazine quarterly to inform members of the ground vehicle community about relevant technology; research, development and engineering (RD&E); professional development of the workforce; and innovative business processes for managing technology. This information exchange increases opportunities in the RD&E community to generate the best ideas and deliver the most advanced technology to our forces.

FORT DRUM, N.Y. -- The national Save a Life Tour (SALT) alcohol-awareness program visited Fort Drum on June 9-13 and educated thousands of Soldiers at Magrath Sports Complex on the dangers of drunk and distracted driving.

FORT DRUM, N.Y. -- Soldiers and Family Members gathered Monday to watch as 7th Engineer Battalion officially joined 1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (LI), during a patch ceremony at Division Hill. The battalion and all five of its companies were represented on the field as their 20th Engineer Brigade patches were replaced by the 10th Mountain Division (LI) crest, marking the beginning of the realignment that will take place across the installation in the next few months.

The U.S. Army Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center (TARDEC) develops and integrates the right technology solutions to improve Current Force effectiveness and provide superior capabilities for the Future Force. Our technical staff leads research in ground systems survivability, power and mobility, intelligent ground systems, force projection and vehicle electronics architecture.

Camp Atterbury-Muscatatuck Urban Training Center, Indiana, played host to more than 60 senior enlisted representatives from nearly every state and territory in the country, and the District of Columbia, June 16-19, 2014, as they attended the 2014 Army National Guard Senior Enlisted Professional Development Workshop.

Lt. Col. Christopher Kuester, Commander, 424th Air Base Squadron, joined the local community, June 14, in honoring Lt. Floyd Addy, who died 70 years ago while avoiding his plane to crash in the center of Wodecq, a small village 30 kilometers north from Chièvres Air Base.

Soldiers from the United States Army's 19th Expeditionary Sustainment Command and Republic of Korea Army's 5th Logistics Support Command cleaned up the Apsan memorial park in recognition of ROK remembrance month, June 18.

Col. Brian J. Reed, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division commanding officer, addresses more than 3,000 Soldiers from the unit prior to a more than six-mile run around Ladd Army Airfield on Fort Wainwright, Alaska June 17. Amidst a steady rainfall Reed told the Soldiers how much 1/25 SBCT means to him. Reed will transition command of 1/25 SBCT to Col. Donn Hill during a ceremony June 18. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Mylinda DuRousseau, 1/25 SBCT Public Affairs)

CAMP CASEY, South Korea -- People pray. Regardless of their religious backgrounds, when facing difficulties or having a hard time, they pray. Praying happens in many forms, but its purpose is to calm the mind and give people strength to continue. For Soldiers bravely serving their nation, this concept is especially relevant.

YONGSAN, South Korea --Taewondo is a much beloved form of traditional martial arts that combines acts of agility with incredible speed and powerful kicks. Since the year 2000, Taekwondo has become one of the official games in the Olympics.
Although some consider Taekwondo just a sport, it is actually an art form that represents the spirit and culture of South Korea.

HONGCHEON, South Korea -- A group of highly motivated Soldiers from the Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 210th Field Artillery Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, push themselves to the limit on a 5k obstacle course in Vivaldi Park, Hongcheon, South Korea, on June 15. The Spartan Sprint, designed on the mountains surrounding the resort, included 21 obstacles and several grueling treks to its peak before the finish line. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Sara E. Wiseman, 210th Field Artillery Brigade Public Affairs/Released). To download these high-quality photos and other from this event, click on the link to go to this set at the 210th Field Artillery Brigade Flickr page: https://www.flickr.com/photos/210fib/sets/72157644802765947/

WEST POINT, N.Y.-- Army athletes overwhelmed their Air Force and Marine rivals in the field competition at the 2014 Army Warrior Trials, capturing eight of the 12 gold medals awarded in a variety of discus and shot put events. The overall field medal count stands at 21 Army, 13 Air Force and two for the Marines.

West Point, New York --J.D. Malone corrects athletes' techniques as he watches them play sitting volleyball in a gym at West Point, New York, encouraging ball control and making sure the athletes are ready to move across the court.

Once a year, citizens of Andover, Ill., formally congregate at the lake in town and remember those who served their country in defense of the nation.
The "Salute to Veterans" ceremony was held at Andover Lake Park, June 8, next to three memorials with veterans' names etched in them.

Ahead of its deployment to Kuwait, the 1st Infantry Division's 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, conducted a ceremony June 1, 2014, in which leaders cased the brigade colors, inactivated the Special Troops Battalion and re-flagged the 1st Engineer Battalion to the 1st Brigade Engineer Battalion.

Creating a new training site can be daunting, but Sgt. 1st Class Lance Widner and students enrolled in the Horizontal Engineering Specialty Reclassification Course at Fort Hunter Liggett, Calif., make the process seem easy.

The Aberdeen Proving Ground Police Department together with Team Command, Control Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C4ISR) conducted an active shooter training simulation in conjunction with the Joint Users Interoperability Training Exercise (JUICE) on June 10, 2014 at APG.

Mr. Dave Taylor serves as the Chief of Staff for TARDEC and is responsible for coordinating and supervising the staff to support the TARDEC mission. Mr. Taylor's previous civilian assignments include Director of Operations and Ground Portfolio Planner and Program Coordinator for PEO Ground Combat Systems.

Dr. David J. Gorsich serves as Chief Scientist for Ground Vehicle Systems at the U.S. Army Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center (TARDEC), and was selected for a Scientific and Professional (ST) position by the Federal Government in January 2009.

"I'm incredibly proud to represent the men and women of the United States Army," Chief of Staff of the Army Gen. Ray Odierno told legislators at the 239th Army birthday ceremony and cake cutting at the Capitol, June 18, 2014.

Brooke Army Medical Center has earned re-designation as a Texas Ten Step Program facility from the Texas Department of State Health Services. BAMC is the only Department of Defense facility to receive the recognition.

Dr. Jennifer A. Hitchcock was appointed to the Senior Executive Service in January 2011 as the Executive Director for Research and Technology Integration (RTI) at the U.S. Army Research Development and Engineering Command (RDECOM) Tank Automotive Research Development and Engineering Center (TARDEC). Ms. Hitchcock brings more than 21 years of technical leadership and managerial experience in mobility and power and energy technologies, systems engineering, acquisition and program management.

Mag Athnasios is the Executive Director, Systems Integration & Engineering, at the U.S. Army Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center (TARDEC). In 2007 he was selected for promotion to the Senior Executive Service.

Dr. Paul D. Rogers serves as director of TARDEC, where he is responsible for providing executive management to deliver advanced technology solutions for all Department of Defense ground systems and combat support equipment. Dr. Rogers was selected to the Army Senior Executive Service in 2007.

The importance of growing personally as well as finding ways to relief stress is an important part of any well-balanced lifestyle. For service members it is no different. Especially for military reserve members that can experience stress while at annual training when they are away from home as well as stress at home. For Soldiers participating in the Quartermaster Liquid Logistic Exercise 2014 in Fort Lewis, Wash., relief of stress comes in the way of relationship enrichment training provided by Army Chaplain Maj. Sang Kim with the 380th Quarter Master Battalion out of Evansville, Ind.

U.S. Army Medical Department Activity Japan conducted a change of command ceremony where Col. Vivian Hutson relinquished command to Col. Thirsa Martinez during an outdoor ceremony at Yano Field, Camp Zama, Japan on June 17, 2014. Brig. Gen. Dennis Doyle, Commanding General of Pacific Regional Medical Command and Tripler Army Medical Center hosted the event attended by top U.S. Army leaders based in Japan and other local civilian dignitaries.

KAISERSLAUTERN, Germany - The 409th Contracting Support Brigade recently supported the 405th Army Field Support Brigade's job shadow program by allowing one of its participants to work with contracting officers here.

A black and white portrait hangs in the hallway of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers -- Alaska District. Photographed is an Army colonel in his mid-40s. With half of a smile and eyebrows furrowed, he stares at observers with a piercing gaze.

"Honey, is this a bad time to ask what's for dinner tonight?"
The above question was asked in jest by a Trooper as he motivated his wife though the barb-wire, low-crawl, obstacle here at the 3rd Infantry Division obstacle course.
The obstacle course was just one part of the Spouse Spur Ride that the 3rd Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment "Seventh First", 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd ID, just held here, May 31.

Soldiers conducted Expert Field Medical Badge testing on Fort Stewart, Ga., June 9-12. EFMB testing consists of a written test, three combat testing lanes, a day and night land navigation course and a 12-mile foot march, all over a week's time, with many tasks and multiple sub-tasks falling into the testing lanes.

"This coach is blowing the whistle like he's in a parade!" screamed one fan to the right. "Let the athletes play!" came from the left. The crowd packed in close to the net, feeding off of the athletes' energy. Intensity, emotion ran high. At the end of the night, Army team A reined victorious with a 30-10 point win against the Marines, and Air Force beat out Army team B 33-26. Army team A meets the Air Force tonight (June 17) in the wheelchair basketball finals at the 2014 U.S. Army Warrior Trials.

The Combined Arms Support Command hosted 32 current and perspective civilian industry partners for a day-long workshop June 4. The purpose of the event was to discuss how the Training with Industry program could expand and improve for the Soldiers participating.

TARDEC Director Dr. Paul Rogers sees the current environment in the ground vehicle community as conducive to great success for the Army in the future, adding that the constraints of today cannot affect an end-state that will lead to success.

Col. Johnny Davis became the 80th commander of the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard). Davis replaced Col. James C. Markert during a ceremony held at Summerall Field, Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, Va., June 18, 2014.

Under Secretary of the Army, Brad Carson, and Gen. John Campbell, Army vice chief of staff, toured the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) area of operations in Kuwait, April 15, to learn about Army Prepositioned Stock and retrograde capabilities and to gain an understanding of U.S. Army Central (ARCENT) activities supporting CENTCOM.

Marksmanship is a fundamental skill throughout the world's militaries, and the ability to hone that skill through expert training is crucial to the competency and capability of any land force. The U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit (USAMU) and the British Army's Small Arms School Corps (SASC) have similar missions and recently explored how the organizations might partner to further enhance marksmanship in the United States and United Kingdom.

On May 31, 1889, South Fork Dam in Johnstown, Pennsylvania failed, killing 2,200 people and leaving thousands more homeless. National Dam Safety Awareness Day occurs each year on May 31 to commemorate this disaster, which remains the worst dam failure in the history of the United States, and to encourage the public to learn about the benefits of dams and the risks associated with potential dam incidents and failures.

Bio: Bill Gray
Position: Mechanical Engineer
Years with SWL: 24 years, 7 months
Years of federal service: 28 years, 5 months
Hometown: Graduated High School from Paron, Ark.
Education: Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville

If you track the U.S. fiscal situation then you're aware that every arm of the federal government is looking at different ways to cut spending and stay viable. One option federal agencies have to cut spending or trade services is the Corps of Engineers Interagency and International Services program. It's not a new way to do business but it's an effective way for government agencies to rely on each other's specialty skill sets during fiscally challenging times.

PRESIDIO OF MONTEREY, Calif. - Inside the Grand Ballroom of the Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel the Army's 239 years of service and tradition were celebrated by attendees of the 229th Military Intelligence Army Birthday Ball June 7.